Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-05-26
FROM STRAND TO STRAND!
EDINBURGH, April 18th, 1887.

EDINBURGH, April 18th, 1887.
| M Dear IL
This is my second day in Edinburgh,
but before l tell you about its palaces
| and its bowels, its princes streets and
poverty streets-for / have heard the
remark that Edinburgh is at once one
of the cleanest as we'll as dirtiest, rich
est and poorest city in all Europe;
| that here extremes meet-I must GO
back to old Ireland and take up the
thread of my story where it was brok-
en-. at Cork, in my last letter.
Leaving the latter place at 2:30 P. NJ.
on the Sth inst, an hours ride brought
me to MaIlow. on the banks of the
Black water, very quaint, old-fash-
ioned town near very interesting riv-
er, cele brated for its fine fishing as well
as picturesque scenery.
had not thought of looking about
any here, but having seven hours to
wait for train to Killarney, wander
about, and presently find myself in the
town some half mile from the depot.
A solitary policeman directs me to the
Spa, once a great health resort, but
now deserted. A neat house encloses
the spring, and man in charge ex-
plains how once the place was over
crowded with visitors, but now. alas!
visitors and happiness rarely bless
their eyes. On my return to the main
street, my guide policeman is waiting
to show me over the grounds of Sir d.
Norreys, who is an old Irisl. gentleman
has reprobate son, my guide informs
me; q wild and dissolute youth of Sc,
and who, few years ago, against his
fathers express order, ran away with
a blacksmith's daughter and married
her in Cork. Sir Norreys has not for
given his son, and will endeavor to cut
him off with shilling. if the laws of
entail do not prevent.
The estate is east Of town, and at the
entrance stands an old castle, in ruins,
and covered completely with ivy. The
modern residence of the owner stands
near and is many lowered, many
gabled building; too large and lonely
altogether for the old man and only
daughter who inhabit it.
After inspecting the buildings we
take long walk through the grounds.
a mile and half brings us to the "big
rock" on the bank of the river. at the
base of which, and near the waters
edge, are numerous caves, inhabited by
foxes and other wild animals. A flight
of stone steps leads to the top of the
rock, which is probably $50 feet high,
and there are arbors and seats and all
sorts of pleasant hooks and corners for
the use OF visitors who come daily to
enjoy the shade and the pretty view
to be had from the top of "b:g rock"
We start on our return to town by
crcuitous route along the bank of the
river, passing through an iron gate
into the park, which is enclosed by q
high stone wall. Many beautiful deer
are quietly and fearlessIy feeding all
about Us, and we spend an hour or two
in the shades OF these old trees, which
do not seem to have been disturbed for
centuries; not one missing except here
and there where one has succumb bed to
old age and been uprooted by the wind.
The sun is down before think of re-
turning-my policeman guide seems to
think the sleepy old town, born proba-
bly, ten or twenty centuries ago, is able
to take care OF itself-and when we do
turn our steps homeward we find the
regulation time for closing the big iron
gates of the park is past-it is after six
o'clock, and we are locked in! 1 am
quite puzzled to know how to get out.
The gate is strong and high, with very
sharp points on top; the wall is very
smooth, and full twelve feet high. But
here is where the guide shows his in
genuity; possibly it is only an effort of
memory, as he may have been in the
same fix before: he simply climbs the
gate to the top of the wall and steps off
into the road outside, which, at this
point. being on the upper hill side, is
about even with the top OF the wall. l
follow suit, and here we are.
| After the usual formula Of leave TAX
| ing from my guide, who is really one
of the pleasantest fellows 1 meet in
the island, / return to the Railway
Hotel, where I have supper and am
entertained until eleven by the only
Englishman I meet during my trip
through Ireland. He had the very
peculiar fashion of ending all his SEN
tences with forcible "eh? what?' but
he very kindly marked out route fol
me, which / will make use of on my
next visit to this country.
At about midnight took the train
for the lakes, where we arrived early
the next morning, and found wha1
seemed majority of the inhabitantt
of the ylace awaiting our arrival, anc
each representing the only decent hous'
!, in the place.
Books have been written on th'
beauties of this region. The lakes and
] mountains, broken gaps and waterfalls
ruined castles and monasteries, all ar
] Of the greatest interest. From SOM
E points, the Gap OF Dunlee particularly
the panorama is glorious, and shoul'
be viewed silently and at leisure in or